Tag Archives: Xiu Xiu

The last time Xiu Xiu was down this way, the Crown and Harp on Lower Greenville was still known as The Cavern. Now the eclectic indie popsters return to Dallas this fall. They support Swans at Trees on Sept. 16. The show is put on by Tactics Productions.

The band tours in support of its latest release Always which was released earlier this year. A strange blend of pop and avant-garde, the sound is distinctly Xiu Xiu led by the equally multifarious and queer frontman Jamie Stewart, pictured.

I never seem to understand their videos and they lean toward a quirky type of gruesome, but I can never stop watching. The same goes for their latest video “Honeysuckle” which you can watch after the jump.

In this Friday’s issue, I’ll have a review of avant-popsters Xiu Xiu‘s new album Always which drops March 6. But the band is already on a roll with its second single. “Beauty Towne” is a sort of companion piece to their early song “Clowne Towne,” but their growth is clearly evident. Keeping true to their obscure notions, the band doesn’t appear in the animated video which plays like a not-so-creepy animatic rough cut of the haunted video from Ringu (the original Japanese version of The Ring).

Queer singer Jamie Stewart and his gang have announced tour dates yesterday on the band’s website. For now, the only Texas dates include Austin on June 6 and Marfa (WTF??) on June 5.

Adam Tyler dropped one of my favorite albums last yearwith Shattered Ice and is now doing the campaign bit for his next single “Like a Drug.” The Electroqueer Tour headliner gets way sexy with his new, dark video for the song that debuted today. He’s addicted to the ladies and the men in the clip and doesn’t leave much to the imagination with lyrics like “I need you up inside of me.” Hey, now.

I think the vid is kinda cool, but I’m disappointed the song was edited to a PG-13 level. They clipped his bridge down to safer, but still sexy, overtones. You can read the entire lyrics here.

Xiu Xiu doesn’t disappoint with their new video for “Hi.” They released the single earlier this month, but Xiu Xiu’s visuals are always a must. Even if they don’t make sense. And they don’t here. With seemingly random imagery of queer frontman Jamie Stewart eating fruit off of trees to someone displaying the art of pyrotechnics on their own hand, nothing ever seems to go together, and yet, it’s hard to stop watching. In a Warholian sense, they make the everyday object into something absurd and/or fascinating. “Hi” may not have a lot of cohesion behind it, but it’s a lot better than having to watch this video.

This is already shaping up to be a year of new releases by LGBT (ish) bands and singers. Adam Lambert, Scissor Sisters and Of Montreal have already released tracks from upcoming albums. Now, indie avant popsters Xiu Xiu are back with their upcoming release, a new single and even a book by queer frontman Jamie Stuart, pictured. The official word came today that the band has dropped its first single from its upcoming album Always set for a March release (although the track was released a week ago on Soundcloud).

The album is said to ambitiously broaches themes and topics such as the objectification of migrant Chinese female laborers (“Factory Girls”), an Afghan teenage boy murdered by American soldiers (“Gul Mudin”) and a teenage girl too young for pregnancy (“I Luv Abortion”). Heavy handed, right? Heavy handed stuff, huh? But for those familiar with Xiu Xiu, Stewart and company don’t churn out bleak music despite such subjects. Their strange knack for melding pop music, tragedy and distinct hooks is evident on 2010’s Dear God, I Hate Myself.

Always has a big time Dallas connection, too. The album is mixed by Dallas-based producer John Congleton, who is a pretty big deal according to NPR. He’s worked with local acts like The Polyphonic Spree, Black Tie Dynasty and Sarah Jaffe and on a bigger scale, has produced work with Marilyn Manson, Antony and the Johnsons, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and whole helluva lot more. Always is also produced by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier.

“Hi” is extravagant in its delivery with a major buildup and its lyrics are both abstract and poignant, but if it’s any hint of the rest of the album, I’m very much looking forward to it. Listen after the jump.

As a clever if not strange B-side, queer fronted band Xiu Xiu released a rather eclectic redux of Rihanna’s hit “Only Girl (in the World).” I doubt it will help you get in the mood for her Friday show at AAC, but give it a listen. Singer Jamie Stewart, in strange ways, continues to prove his weird brilliance.

According to the press release, the cover “was inspired by a night at backlot Durham, N.C. lesbian bar Steele Blue—watching all the southern dykes go crazy on the dance floor when the song dropped. A dissonant string quartet backed by an undeniable dance beat, the gender-bend of the cover is furthered with a quote from Detroit Grand Pubahs’ song ‘Sandwiches’ — a song beloved by Stewart for its unintended gender screw and one that is just as filthy as Rihanna’s.”

The A-side “Daphny” depicts the true story of Stewart’s friend “who — following an arrest for shoplifting — was raped by an officer while in police custody. There is nothing to say about this that is not already reflected in the 7-inch’s cover title. The outro’s refrain ‘enjoy life, enjoy life, enjoy this life!’ is the back of a hand wiping away tears of hatred, fear, disbelief and stunned empathy; what else can one do but ‘take a photo of your friend vomiting on your head’? The song is an attempt to give support, to accuse and most of all to live in spite of life.”

“Daphny” is also the first song where new members Zac Pennington and Sam Mickens joined Stewart in writing a Xiu Xiu tune.

While I’m kinda fascinated by “Daphny,” I’m still making up my mind on the Rihanna cover. Listen to them here.

Freddy Ruppert and Jamie Stewart of FG

Jamie Stewart has a thing for that which grosses us out. Rememberthis videoI posted in which his Xiu Xiu bandmate Angela Seo performed her gagging talents? That’s always a great one before lunch. Now, the gay musician and his side project band Former Ghosts bring us this video for their song “Taurean Nature” from the forthcoming album New Love.The video was posted by Pitchfork.

Stewart bandmate Freddy Ruppert’s day starts off a bit differently than most people’s in this video. In sequined Elvis garb, Ruppert pees, gorges, doesn’t like cute kitties and gets kinda naked. It’s all so strange but also a glorious kind of train wreck I couldn’t stop watching. However, I am swearing off strawberry milk.

Out frontman Jamie Stewart is barely seen in this one-shot vid but his cohort Angela Seo is the star here as she puts her gag reflex to the test. And if you make it to the end, the payoff is gross but kinda funny…if you’re into that sort of thing. But you know, I’ll just let you watch it (after the jump of course).

Bi musician Jamie Stewart brings his Xiu Xiu to town.

OK, you have some time to plan on this one. Xiu Xiu‘s tour stops in Dallas at the Cavern on Lower Greenville Mar. 11. The show comes just days after their newest release Dear God, I Hate Myselfwhich drops Feb. 23. Get a sampling of the avant-garde popsters, fronted by bi-rocker Jamie Stewart, by checking out their track, “Gray Death,” from the new album here. Stewart produced the album with Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier. However, on Xiu Xiu’s blog, Stewart mentioned in late December, he is working with Dallas producer and musician John Congleton of the Paper Chase on his next record. Whether that’s a solo record or Xiu Xiu release is unclear.

They are releasing Dear God in varied special editions. You can order on their site your choice of special edition CD with either chocolate made by the band or with a Xiu Xiu for Life t-shirt written in blood. Yeah, real blood.

While you make your decision on that, spend some time looking over the kinky concert poster for the tour after the jump.